Happy New Year from the U.A.E.

Hello Old Friends,

I have not been on the forum very much in the last year so I thought I’d give you an update. I have been deployed overseas for the last 25 years. 2020 looked like it was going to end my run/contract as DoD work was rapidly dwindling. Because of that I sold my TJ (could not re-import it) and prepared to leave.

After much begging, pleading, and breaking out the knee pads, I was able to continue my operation here and keep my staff as well. The work is now returning. I needed another hobby car and wrenching project so I bought two Mercedes. An old school E-class AMG station wagon with a mighty V-8 and sport suspension and a SLK350 for mama.

I have been restoring them to perfection and the wagon is an utter blast to drive. Hate to admit it, but the SLK is a total blast as well, but they are reputed to be a chick car.

I still wrench on TJs and JKs every week and will probably get another TJ or XJ soon as the dunes are calling.

Sadly over the last three years, my hobby of wrenching on TJs has attracted a very large following and too many folks jumped onboard and that has dramatically driven the price of TJs up here as well as the parts prices and availability at the scrap yard. Everyone is refurbishing their rigs now (slapping my forehead). TJ prices have doubled. Oy Vey!

Oh well, perhaps my next one will be bought in the states and shipped here. That way I can re-import it to the states when I am finally done. Getting long in the tooth but not ready to pack it in. Many or most of my old friends are retired, but I have no desire to be them.

Happy New Year. Art

vw1961 said:

Hello Flivver250,

I am a new member here, i have a 2006 TJ and am based in Dubai too. As i like to do all the work on the car myself, i wanted to ask you if you can recommend a scrapyard with TJ parts?
oh and by the way sorry for probably being one of these people driving up prices for TJs and parts
First id only need small things like the rear recovery hook, but maybe at some point i might need another transfer case. I guess Sharjah Industrial area is the place to start looking but as it is huge i was wondering if you have a tip for me where to start.

Thank you, Markus

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You could try Abdullah @ 052-759-9433 He runs a scrapyard in Sharjah that is pretty nice. There is a TJ group here that is pretty helpful with parts & advice. If you are available tomorrow, we will be wrenching at my place in Sharjah and there should be a few TJ guys here. We rebuild our transfer cases with great success. The 231's are simple and fairly rugged. Some of the guys use larger chains and gears, not sure that is required.

VW, Good meeting you yesterday. You have a nice stock TJ that will be fun to maintain. An unmolested Jeep is quite desirable and will go anywhere in the sand a lifted Jeep will. The sand is mostly technique and experience, not height.